You may think the sun gives you a "healthy glow," but a tan comes with a price: Skin damage that may not be visible to you now will rear its ugly head as you age. Everyone's skin changes over time, developing the characteristics we associate with older age, but sun exposure accelerates the process.
Identification
The sun emits two types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB. Both kinds damage the skin, but not in the same way, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. UVB, the culprit in most sunburns, affects the skin's outer layers. When the sun is brightest, UVB is at its worst, bathing exposed skin most during the summertime. Only 28 percent of UVB exposure occurs the rest of the year. UVA exposure is less seasonal and not dependent on the time of day. The chief ray behind tanning, UVA goes deeper into the skin than UVB, says the Skin Cancer Foundation. Both kinds of radiation damage skin cells in the epidermis.
Effects
The less serious effects of sun damage include wrinkles, age spots, a mottled complexion, leathery skin and other signs of skin aging, referred to as photoaging. The sun's rays harm both the collagen and the elastin in the skin, affecting its structure and reducing its strength and elasticity. Even people with dark skin can suffer the effects of too much sun, says the Mayo Clinic. Though they have more natural defenses than those with pale skin, they are not impervious to damage and photoaging.
Significance
Skin cancer, the most prevalent cancer in the United States, is the most significant consequence of skin sun damage. One in five people will develop skin cancer sometime during their lifetime, says the Skin Cancer Foundation. Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type, rarely kills. Squamous cell carcinoma, No. 2 in frequency, causes about 2,500 deaths a year. Melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, causes three-quarters of the fatalities--about 8,650 deaths a year--even though it makes up a small percentage of cases.
Time Frame
The effects of sun exposure build over time, but they get their start early in life. Excessive exposure in childhood is a major factor in the development of melanoma, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Only a few minutes of unprotected exposure daily will add up to damaged skin and premature aging, says the American Academy of Dermatology on its Aging Skin Net website. Some people, especially those in high-sun areas such as Florida, can display photoaging in their 20s.
Prevention
Sunscreen, hats and umbrellas are essential equipment to protect your skin in the sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the everyday use of a sunscreen with an SPF, or sun protection factor, of at least 15. Aging Skin Net goes further, recommending an SPF of 30 and specifying a broad-spectrum sunscreen, one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply the sunscreen often, especially if you're swimming or sweating. Don't use tanning beds, which expose you to concentrated overdoses of sun and raise your risk of skin cancer.
